Explanation of Vote on Resolution on the Social Forum

The Social Forum (A/HRC/35/L.5)

Explanation of Vote by the United States of America,as delivered by Jason Mack

UN Human Rights Council – 35th SessionGeneva, June 23, 2017

The United States strongly supports the engagement and participation of civil society organizations and other stakeholders in the work of the Human Rights Council. However, the United States has significant concerns about this resolution on the Social Forum, and therefore dissociates from consensus on this resolution.

Among our many concerns is the fact that this resolution contains inaccurate and misleading language on economic and financial crises, which is inconsistent with previously agreed text from numerous recent UN General Assembly and ECOSOC resolutions.

We are also deeply concerned about this resolution’s substantial budgetary implications. The costs this resolution imposes merit careful review and scrutiny given the large demands already placed on OHCHR. We continue to believe that the Social Forum requests too much in terms of resources.

Moreover, concerns of the United States about the existence of a ‘right to development’ are long-standing and well known.